AS Barangay Ginebra tries to sort out the problems that beset the team in a horrific debut against Meralco a few days ago, another problem has set in.
Import Michael Dunigan was downed by food poisoning on Thursday morning, spending a few hours in a doctor's clinic where he was administered intravenous fluid.
The culprit, according to team insiders, was sushi which the 6-8 import ate at a posh restaurant ay SM Megamall. He later suffered from a bum stomach and constant vomiting.
“Pagod kasi at gutom na gutom siya 'nun. After practice kahapon, tumira ng sushi. Ayun, nasira ang tiyan,” a team official said. “Sinabihan nga namin siya na pag gutom, wag titira ng ganung hilaw.
"Pagmahina ang sikmura, tatamaan ka talaga run,” he added.
Dunigan’s agent, Sheryl Reyes, confirmed the incident, saying Dunigan is now recovering after spending a few hours at the clinic of Purefoods team doctor Raffy Sanchez.
The import skipped practice on Thursday but Reyes assured Dunigan can rejoin practice on Friday ahead of the team's game against Barako Bull in Binan, Laguna on Sunday.
“Okay na siya, he can practice tomorrow. Nagpapahinga lang ngayon, tulog siya the whole day," Reyes said.
[See Identity crisis? Agustin wants Ginebra to run, but import says it must go to its big men more]
Another source told Spin.ph that after their lackluster performance in a 74-85 loss to the Meralco Bolts in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup debut on Tuesday, Ginebra players were given a dressing down by management.
The players reportedly vowed to make up for the sorry performance, especially the guards who went a woeful 9-of-41 shooting against the Bolts.
Ginebra guard Josh Urbiztondo, one of the few players who performed well against the Bolts, is optimistic they will bounce back after the humbling loss.
“We just have to play harder, it’s the only way to bounce back. We’re all disappointed in our first game, but we need to work hard,” Urbiztondo said.
“We’re being positive, we just got to stay together. We didn’t expect to start the conference like that, but it’s better than we experience this at the tailend of the conference, tapos na eh. So we need to stay positive,” he added.
Urbiztondo said Ginebra looked upbeat in practice on Thursday morning.
“The positivity, the energy, the fire and camaraderie are there," the Fil-Am guard said, "we just hope we can bring that to the game on Sunday.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
